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P538 HJB

1997 BMW Z3

Silver Petrol 1895cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 May 2027
Tests31 (18 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate58.1%

Mileage

172,776 mi
Last recorded172,776 miles
Recorded on21 May 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW Z383,222 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP538 HJB
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,895cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

18 pass 13 fail
Pass 21 May 2026 172,776 miles

Central exhaust heat shield damaged

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 7 May 2026 172,763 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Central exhaust heat shield damaged

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 14 May 2025 172,463 miles

Central exhaust heat shield slightly deteriorated

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 7 Apr 2025 172,424 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Offside Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Central exhaust heat shield slightly damaged

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Apr 2024 171,860 miles

Central stop lamp not working

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear tyre slightly worn out of shape

Offside Rear tyre slightly worn out of shape

Fail 15 Mar 2024 171,851 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Central stop lamp not working

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear tyre slightly worn out of shape

Offside Rear tyre slightly worn out of shape

Pass 10 Mar 2023 171,058 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 2 Mar 2023 171,042 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage insecurely attached (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Mar 2022 169,659 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp incorrect colour (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 17 Feb 2022 169,654 miles

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp incorrect colour (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Feb 2021 167,923 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 24 Feb 2020 167,155 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 11 Feb 2020 167,153 miles

Indicator switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 4 Mar 2019 164,084 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Back box (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust mounting defective Pipe to back box (6.1.2 (a))

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive Power steering pipe from reservoir to pump (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp light intensity obviously reduced (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Gearbox (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Rear diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 4 Mar 2019 164,084 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Back box (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust mounting defective Pipe to back box (6.1.2 (a))

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive Power steering pipe from reservoir to pump (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp light intensity obviously reduced (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Gearbox (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Rear diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Jul 2018 161,364 miles
Fail 3 Jul 2018 161,364 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Aug 2017 160,644 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2016 160,610 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2015 160,201 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nearside Front Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly chafed (3.6.B.4d)

dent in offside sill

Fail 15 Aug 2015 160,190 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in an outer ball joint (2.5.B.2a)

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nearside Front Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly chafed (3.6.B.4d)

dent in offside sill

Pass 13 Aug 2014 158,125 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2014 158,125 miles

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 12 Aug 2013 151,618 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2012 151,604 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 14 May 2009 143,264 miles

slight noise from offside rear wheel bearing/diff bearing.

your vehicle only just met the required park brake efficency on the offside.

Fail 7 May 2009 142,931 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

slight noise from offside rear wheel bearing/diff bearing.

Pass 3 May 2008 129,268 miles
Fail 1 May 2008 129,260 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage insecure (2.4.G.1)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Pass 2 Feb 2007 125,663 miles
Fail 1 Feb 2007 125,661 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Offside Rear Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

How Reliable is the BMW Z3?

Based on 498,063 MOT tests across 26,000 vehicles.

73.2%
Pass Rate
2,128
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
26,000
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 17,103
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 15,600
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 10,064
position lamp(s) not working 9,305
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 7,992
Full BMW Z3 reliability report

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Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P538 HJB is a 1997 BMW Z3 in Silver with a 1,895cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.1%.

Across all 1997 BMW Z3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.6% with a typical mileage of 83,222 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW Z3 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 17,103 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P538 HJB, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW Z3 typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 29 years old, this BMW Z3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P538 HJB?

You can check the full history of P538 HJB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P538 HJB registered?

P538 HJB is a 1997 BMW Z3, first registered on 26 June 1997.

Is P538 HJB safe to buy?

The MOT history for P538 HJB shows 31 tests with a 58.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P538 HJB have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on P538 HJB. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.